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Vancouver 2010 Olympics Watch: Hockey Player Milan Lucic

Milan Lucic outside the NBC Store in Rockefeller Center, in New York City. His picture is featured in the store window. Photo by Michael Nagle/NHL via Getty Images.

Will Vancouver-born Milan Lucic make Canada's 2010 Olympic hockey team when the roster is announced on Wednesday? Pray that the Zamboni gods will be so kind: the world wouldn't want to be denied of what could be an epic Olympic rivalry between the 21-year-old Boston Bruins winger and the Toronto Maple Leafs’ defenseman Mike Komisarek, 27, a contender for a spot on Team U.S.A. In November 2008, when Komisarek was playing for the Montreal Canadiens, the two players exchanged such monster blows that Lucic literally dismantled Komisarek, whose shoulder popped out of its socket, forcing the Habs bruiser to the bench for more than a dozen games. Komisarek retaliated the following April by cross-checking Lucic in the face.

"Hypothetically speaking, let's say you have a rival in the National Hockey League," I said to Lucic when I met up with the six-foot-three-inch brawler a few weeks ago at the N.H.L. offices in New York City. "Would that carry over onto an Olympic stage if you are playing for Team Canada and your league rival is playing for, say, Team U.S.A.?"

Lucic's toothy grin suggested he knew exactly to whom I was alluding. But then again, I could have been referring to any number of players: Lucic got into 13 fights in 2007, his rookie year, leading the Bruins in roughhousing. In his sophomore regular season, his fight card totaled 10. (By comparison, Komisarek, whom Sports Illustrated nominated one of the 12 most rugged players in N.H.L., recorded a total of six fights in the 2007 and 2008 regular seasons.)"I mean … I think, uh … I think it would be there," Lucic laughed. Then he smiled even bigger. Judging by his charisma, I would never have guessed that Lucic is the kind of kid who smashes players into the boards so hard that the glass shatters. The only hint was the scar on his nose—it’s from the 15 stitches he received during a January 2008 game against the Philadelphia Flyers after his nose got stuck between the boards and the glass when he was nailing an opponent. "If you have an ongoing battle with a player in particular, I think that will always carry over," he said, his Canadian accent easy to detect. "I definitely think it would carry over into Olympic play."

The problem with Lucic's Olympic bid, however, is that, while he was one of just 46 hockey players invited to attend Canada's Olympic orientation camp in August, he's been sidelined for most of this season: first he broke his finger in a game against the Dallas Stars in early October; then he sprained his ankle about a month later when he was playing the Minnesota Wild. It's tough luck, considering that the current hockey season is used to solidify the Canadian team's Olympic lineup. "It sucks for me," Lucic said. "I never really get injured or miss that much time, and this year it just happened. But everything happens for a reason I guess, right?" (Komisarek was also put on the injured list in November after he hurt his quadriceps in a game against the Detroit Red Wings.)

By Jennifer Pottheiser/NHLI via Getty Images.

If the personable Canadian does make the Olympic team, it would be only his second international hockey experience. Lucic, who wasn't even old enough to skate when Mike Modano, the 39-year-old American who is making his third Olympic bid this year, started playing for the Minnesota North Stars in 1989 ("I heard people were pissed off when the North Stars moved from Minnesota to Dallas," Lucic said), captained Team Canada in 2007 in the Canada-Russia Super Series, an eight-game showdown between two of the biggest team rivals in sports.

"If I do get to be part of the Olympics, it would be more than a dream," Lucic said. "I don't think there are a lot of people who get to participate in the Olympics in their hometown. To get to do that would be the No. 1 thing that could possibly happen to me."

Lucic's nagging ankle injury, which has kept him from competing since November, is getting better. "You've got to really let it heal and make sure there's no pain before you get out playing," he said, hoping that he'll be recovered in time to play the N.H.L. Winter Classic game with the Bruins on New Year’s Day. Anyone who has watched pro-football games recently has undoubtedly seen those NBC commercials for the Winter Classic—with the rink being laid at Fenway Park, in Boston, to the tune of that catchy Drop Kick Murphy song. "It's going to be real cool, because the game is at Fenway and the Green Monster will be in the background," Lucic said. "I'm sure they'll be using the Red Sox's scoreboard. Hopefully I get all healed so I can play. And I'll be sure to dress warm."

But if his injuries prevent him from suiting up with the Bruins this week and then Team Canada later this winter, perhaps instead of skating the Olympic blue lines, he'll be able to cheer for the Super Bowl's yard lines come February—if quarterback Brett Favre's throwing arm holds up, that is. "As a Canadian, you feel like you can cheer for any N.F.L. team," Lucic said, "and as a kid, I always liked the Vikings, so I'm a Vikings fan." At least he's not holding his ankle sprain against Minnesota.

The 2010 Bridgestone N.H.L. Winter Classic will air live on NBC at one p.m. E.T./noon C.T. on January 1.